IP Library Granted Patent US 12,409,675
Granted Patent B2
US 12,409,675 · App. 17/498,018 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Tool unit, press for holding such a tool unit and method for a ready-to-operate arrangement of the tool unit in the holder of the press

Inventor: Helmut Prinzinger (Boehmenkirch, DE)
Assignee: ANDRITZ SCHULER PRESSEN GMBH
B44B5/0052
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,409,675
App. No.
17/498,018
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tool unit 20 and a press 21 , particularly an embossing press. The tool unit 20 is simply and quickly arranged in or removed from a holder 23 of the press 21 in order to carry out a quick tool change with short downtime of press 21 . For this purpose the tool unit 20 comprises a first tool 45 and a second tool 46 that are arranged along a tool axis A on a tool carrier 31 . By means of a tool guide device 47 , the second tool 46 is movably supported in a guided manner relative to the tool carrier 31 and the first tool 45 , independent from guide devices of press 21 . Therefore, the tool unit 20 can be prepared and set up during the ongoing operation of press 21 . If desired or necessary, the prepared tool unit 20 is exchanged against the presently used tool unit 20.

Claims (32)

1. A press ( 21 ) for forming a round blank ( 59 ) comprising:

a holder ( 23 ) for an exchangeable tool unit ( 20 ) that comprises a first tool ( 45 ) and a second tool ( 46 ) that is movably supported in a stroke direction (H) toward the first tool ( 45 ) and in a back-stroke direction (R) away from the first tool ( 45 ) along the tool axis (A),

a positioning device ( 82 ) that comprises at least one positioning body ( 83 ) that cooperates with one assigned positioning recess ( 85 ) on the tool unit ( 20 ) respectively in order to position and/or align the tool unit ( 20 ) relative to the press ( 21 ),

the positioning recess ( 85 ) has a form tapering from an open end toward the other end of the positioning recess ( 85 ) and the at least one positioning body ( 83 ) tapers in the backstroke direction R toward its free end, and,

a clamping device ( 90 ) that is configured to clamp the tool unit ( 20 ) arranged in the holder ( 23 ) after the positioning device ( 82 ) has positioned and/or orientated the tool unit ( 20 ) relative to the press ( 21 ).

2. The press according to claim 1 , further comprising a coupling device ( 68 ) is provided that is configured to couple the second tool ( 46 ) with a ram ( 27 ) of the press ( 21 ), such that the movement of the ram ( 27 ) is transferred to the second tool ( 46 ) at least in a movement area of the ram ( 27 ).

3. The press according to claim 2 , further comprising the coupling device ( 68 ) is configured to urge the second tool ( 46 ) in the back-stroke direction (R) with a coupling force toward the ram ( 27 ).

4. The press according to claim 3 , further comprising a stop surface ( 70 ) is provided against which the second tool ( 46 ) is urged due to the clamping force in a rest position.

5. The press according to claim 2 , further comprising the coupling device ( 68 ) is configured to allow transverse movements of the ram ( 27 ) transverse to the tool axis (A) and/or tilting movements of the ram ( 27 ) relative to the tool axis (A).

6. The press according to claim 1 , further comprising a frame guide device ( 24 ) is provided in the holder ( 23 ) that cooperates with a movement guide device ( 25 ) provided on the tool unit ( 20 ).

7. The press according to claim 6 , wherein a clearance is provided between the frame guide device ( 24 ) and the movement guide device ( 25 ) configured for the possibility of relative movement between the tool unit ( 20 ) and the press frame ( 22 ).

8. The press according to claim 1 , further comprising a positioning drive ( 84 ) is provided and configured to move the positioning bodies ( 83 ) in stroke direction (H) and backstroke direction (R) and can be moved into an alignment position (III), wherein the positioning bodies ( 83 ) project into the respective assigned positioning recess ( 85 ) and abuts against the tool carrier ( 31 ) inside the respective assigned positioning recess ( 85 ).

9. The press according to claim 1 , further comprising a sensor device ( 38 ) is provided and configured to detect that the tool unit ( 20 ) is completely and correctly arranged in the holder ( 23 ).

10. The press according to claim 1 , wherein the exchangeable tool unit ( 20 ) comprises:

a tool carrier ( 31 ) that is configured to be exchangeably connected with the press ( 21 ),

the first tool ( 45 ) and the second tool ( 46 ) are arranged in alignment with the tool axis (A) on the tool carrier ( 31 ),

wherein the second tool ( 46 ) is movably arranged in a guided manner on the tool carrier ( 31 ) along the tool axis (A) by means of a tool guide device ( 47 ) such that the second tool ( 46 ) is movable in the stroke direction (H) toward the first tool ( 45 ) and in the back-stroke direction (R) away from the first tool ( 45 ), wherein the second tool ( 46 ) is configured to be movably coupled with a ram ( 27 ) of the press ( 21 ).

11. The press according to claim 10 , wherein the tool guide device ( 47 ) is configured to support transverse movements of the second tool ( 46 ) transverse to the tool axis (A) and/or tilting movements of the second tool ( 46 ) relative to the tool axis (A).

12. The press according to claim 10 , wherein the tool guide device ( 47 ) comprises at least one guide column ( 48 ) that is movably supported in an assigned guide bushing ( 49 ) in the stroke direction (H) and the back-stroke direction (R).

13. The press according to claim 12 , wherein the second tool ( 46 ) is movably coupled with the at least one guide column ( 48 ) and that the at least one guide bushing ( 49 ) is arranged on the tool carrier ( 31 ).

14. The press according to claim 10 , wherein the second tool ( 46 ) comprises a tool coupling surface ( 69 ) that is configured to be in abutment against a ram surface ( 71 ) of a ram ( 27 ) of the press ( 21 ) during movement of the second tool ( 46 ) in stroke direction (H).

15. The press according to claim 10 , wherein the first tool ( 45 ) is movable relative to the tool carrier ( 31 ) between a forming position (I) and an ejecting position (II).

16. The press according to claim 15 , wherein in the forming position (I) the first tool ( 45 ) is immovably supported in stroke direction (H) on the tool carrier ( 31 ) and/or the press ( 21 ).

17. The press according to claim 10 , further comprising a transport part ( 57 ) having a sliding surface ( 58 ) for sliding transport of round blanks ( 59 ) into the tool unit ( 20 ) and out of the tool unit ( 20 ) is provided on the tool carrier ( 31 ).

18. The press according to claim 10 , further comprising a movement guide device ( 25 ) is provided on the tool carrier ( 31 ) that is configured to cooperate with a frame guide device ( 24 ) on a press frame ( 22 ) of the press ( 21 ) in order to move the tool unit ( 20 ) in an insertion direction into the press ( 21 ) or out of the press ( 21 ).

19. The press according to claim 10 , wherein the one positioning recess ( 85 ) is provided on the tool carrier ( 31 ) that is configured to cooperate with the at least one positioning body ( 83 ) of the press ( 21 ) in order to define a relative position and/or relative orientation between the tool unit ( 20 ) and the press ( 21 ).

20. A method of operating the press for forming the round blank according to claim 1 , said method comprising the following steps:

Inserting the tool unit ( 20 ) in the holder ( 23 ) of the press ( 21 ),

Positioning and/or aligning the tool unit ( 20 ) relative to a press frame ( 22 ) by means of the positioning device ( 82 ) in that the at least one positioning body ( 83 ) of the positioning device ( 82 ) is projecting in the associated positioning recess ( 85 ) on the tool unit ( 20 ), the positioning recess ( 85 ) has a form tapering from the open end toward the other end of the positioning recess ( 85 ) and the at least one positioning body ( 83 ) tapers in the backstroke direction R toward its free end,

Clamping the tool unit ( 20 ) on the press frame ( 22 ) by means of a clamping device ( 90 ), and

Retracting the at least one positioning body ( 83 ) out of the positioning recess ( 85 ) on the tool unit ( 20 ).

21. The method according to claim 20 , wherein the tool unit ( 20 ) comprises the first tool ( 45 ) and the second tool ( 46 ) and that the second tool ( 46 ) is movably coupled by means of a coupling device ( 68 ) with a ram ( 27 ) of the press ( 21 ) subsequent to positioning and/or aligning the tool unit ( 20 ) relative to the press frame ( 22 ).

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 31, 2025
From: SCHULER PRESSEN GMBH
To: ANDRITZ SCHULER PRESSEN GMBH
Reel/Frame 071889/0038 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2021
From: PRINZINGER, HELMUT
To: SCHULER PRESSEN GMBH
Reel/Frame 057886/0779 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2019 109 700.2 · Apr 12, 2019 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part PCTEP2020059730 · Apr 6, 2020
Related Publication 20220024245A1 · Jan 27, 2022
References Cited (60)
US 3111100A · Georgeff · 1963 [cited by examiner]
US 3638473A · McElroy · 1972 [cited by examiner]
US 3834217A · Ducate · 1974 [cited by examiner]
US 3881343A · Ducate · 1975 [cited by examiner]
US 3926083A · Janiszewski · 1975 [cited by examiner]
US 3949589A · Johnson · 1976 [cited by examiner]
US 4044492A · Carrieri et al. · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4044592A · Carrieri et al. · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4044692A · Carrieri et al. · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4703644A · Waldner · 1987 [cited by examiner]
US 4912960A · Kroener · 1990 [cited by examiner]
US 5458057A · Arens · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5535655A · Kammann · 1996 [cited by examiner]
US 8869582B2 · Cornish · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20140366356A1 · Spary · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 104875419A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 106862454A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CN 107116130A · 2017 [cited by examiner]
CN 207481298U · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CN 108367397A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CN 109433993A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 109433957A · 2019 [cited by examiner]
DE 2628855C2 · 1986 [cited by applicant]
DE 3516296A1 · 1986 [cited by applicant]
DE 4301568A1 · 1993 [cited by applicant]
DE 4337902A1 · 1995 [cited by applicant]
DE 29910927U1 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
DE 19904888C1 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
DE 102007015631A1 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
DE 102015010489A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
DE 102016120054A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
EP 029476581 · 1992 [cited by applicant]
EP 2602035A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
EP 2990192A1 · 2016 [cited by examiner]
JP S5367852U · 1978 [cited by applicant]
JP S53133853U · 1978 [cited by applicant]
JP S56100229U · 1981 [cited by applicant]
JP S6152942A · 1986 [cited by applicant]
JP H5285553 · 1993 [cited by applicant]
JP H07241844A · 1995 [cited by applicant]
JP H09141380A · 1997 [cited by applicant]
JP H081555U · 1998 [cited by applicant]
JP 2003290993A · 2003 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008119704A · 2008 [cited by examiner]
SU 795703A1 · 1981 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2011127925A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2017076720A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
The International Search Report for the corresponding international application No. PCT/EP2020/059730, dated Jul. 7, 2020 in the German language (3 pages). [cited by applicant]
The English translation of the International Search Report for the corresponding international application No. PCT/EP2020/059730 (3 pages). [cited by applicant]
An Office Action for the corresponding German patent application No. 10 2019 109 700.2 to which the present application claims priority; dated Dec. 17, 2019; 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Google generated English Translation of the substantive portion of the Office Action for the corresponding German patent application No. 10 2019 109 700.2 to which the present application claims priority; 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
The German Patent and Trademark Office issued communication dated Sep. 30, 2022, relative to an Opposition issued the same date, for the corresponding German application No. 10 2019 109 700.2, in the German Language, in… [cited by applicant]
A Notice of Reasons for Rejection dated Sep. 15, 2023, of the Japanese Patent Office in the Japanese language for the corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-559309. No English translation is readily availabl… [cited by applicant]
JP H 10137 889 A: Date: May 26, 1998; Japan; no translation. [cited by applicant]
KR 1007 327 12 B1; Date: Jun. 28, 2007: South Korea; no translation. [cited by applicant]
TW 379595 U; Date: Jan. 11, 2000; Taiwan; no translation. [cited by applicant]
WO 2015 181 768 A1; Date: Dec. 3, 2015; WIPO Italy; Publication in English. [cited by applicant]
An English translation of the substantive portion of the Office Action of the Chinese Patent Office, dated Mar. 31, 2023, for the corresponding Chinese Patent Application No. 2020800283288. [cited by applicant]
The Office Action and Search Report dated Mar. 31, 2023, of the Chinese Patent Office in the Chinese language for the corresponding Chinese Patent Application No. 2020800283288. [cited by applicant]
An Office Action being a Notice of rejection dated Nov. 26, 2024, of the Japanese Patent Office in the Japanese language for the corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-206465. No English translation is readi… [cited by applicant]